Levi Rothermund
Bologna and 1. FC Heidenheim meet in a mid-July friendly on 22 July 2026, with both clubs deep in their pre-season preparations under new or continuing coaching setups. Domenico Tedesco takes charge of the Italian side, while Frank Schmidt continues his long tenure at Heidenheim. What makes this fixture genuinely interesting is the gap in club pedigree on paper — Bologna sit at 61st in the world club rankings, Heidenheim considerably lower at 301st — yet the German side arrives in noticeably sharper pre-season form. Bologna have played just one match in the past 30 days, losing it, whereas Heidenheim have gone 2-1 across three recent outings.
One player to track from the Heidenheim side is whoever leads their attacking line — the club scored nine goals against Nordlingen and showed they can press high and convert in bunches in the right conditions. On the Bologna side, the creative midfielder profile under Tedesco’s system will be key; the Italians showed attacking intent earlier in the season with results like a 3-2 win over Napoli and a 3-3 draw with Inter, so the quality is there even if recent sharpness is lacking.
Hot stat: Heidenheim scored nine goals in a single pre-season match against Nordlingen — the kind of output that signals an attack finding its rhythm quickly heading into the new campaign.
| 🏆 Tournament: | International Club Friendly 2026 — July Phase |
| 🗓️ Date: | 22.07.2026 |
| ⏰ Time: | 16:00 CEST |
Bologna vs 1. FC Heidenheim prediction
Despite Bologna’s higher global standing, their pre-season has been poor. One match played, one defeat — a 0-4 loss to Arminia Bielefeld. That is a brutal result regardless of context. Heidenheim, by contrast, beat Altach 2-1, then lost to Lugano 0-1, but before that dismantled Nordlingen 9-0. They also pushed Mainz reasonably in a 0-2 loss. Their overall pre-season record reads two wins and one loss from three July matches, which is a meaningful difference in match sharpness.
Bologna’s year-long record is also underwhelming — 12 wins from 32 matches gives a 38% win rate, while Heidenheim’s 23% from 22 matches is lower, but their recent trajectory points upward. We think Heidenheim can at minimum stay competitive here, and a draw or a Heidenheim win is genuinely plausible. Bologna will need time to find their legs under Tedesco’s system, and pre-season losses to lower-ranked opposition suggest defensive and organisational issues that haven’t been resolved yet.
The safer play is on goals. Both sides have shown they can score in pre-season — Bologna’s 3-3 with Inter and 3-2 over Napoli are not from this July window but reflect attacking capacity, and Heidenheim’s 9-0 and 2-1 results show they are not shy in front of goal. We lean toward goals in this match.
- Best Bet: Over 2.5 Goals — both teams carry attacking intent in pre-season, and Bologna’s defensive vulnerability (0-4 vs Bielefeld) makes goals likely from both ends.
- Value Pick: Heidenheim Win or Draw (Double Chance) — Bologna are not in form, and Heidenheim arrive with more match sharpness and a winning mentality built over July.
- BTTS Yes — Bologna have the attacking class to score even when disorganised, and Heidenheim have been free-scoring in this pre-season window.
Heidenheim under Frank Schmidt typically set up in a compact, direct shape. They press aggressively, commit fouls to disrupt rhythm, and rely on fast transitions. Bologna under Tedesco tend to play a possession-based game with vertical passing lines. If Heidenheim’s pressing disrupts Bologna’s build-up — which it may, given Bologna’s current lack of cohesion — the German side could generate the better chances. Honestly, this looks like a match where Heidenheim’s fitness advantage in early July could matter more than the quality gap.
| 🔥Hot Tip: | 1. FC Heidenheim to score in both halves |
| ⚽Total Goals: | Over 2.5 |
| 💥Both Teams To Score: | Yes |
| 🎯Total Corners: | Over 7.5 |
Team Analysis
Bologna’s pre-season has been a difficult start under Domenico Tedesco. Their only July outing ended in a heavy 0-4 defeat to Arminia Bielefeld — a side ranked well outside the top 100 globally. That result alone raises questions about Bologna’s defensive structure and squad readiness. Earlier in the season, Bologna showed they can compete: a 3-2 win over Napoli and a 3-3 draw with Inter showed attacking quality, and a 1-0 win over Atalanta showed defensive resilience. But those results feel distant now. Their form across the last 15 matches has been inconsistent — a mix of wins, draws, and losses with no clear positive momentum. The year-long 38% win rate from 32 matches tells a story of a side that has struggled for consistency. Tedesco will need this friendly to help build structure and confidence before the season begins.
1. FC Heidenheim look like the sharper side heading into this fixture. Their most recent July match was a 9-0 demolition of amateur side Nordlingen — a result that, while against modest opposition, at least confirms goals are flowing. Before that, they lost 0-1 to Lugano, a Swiss top-flight side, which is a respectable result. Their 2-1 win over Altach earlier in July showed they can grind out wins against professional opposition. Frank Schmidt’s side also pushed Mainz in a 0-2 loss earlier in the year and beat FC Köln 3-1, showing they can compete against Bundesliga-level teams. Two wins from three July matches gives them a clear advantage in match sharpness over Bologna heading into this game.
🚨Check out our dedicated Bologna vs 1. FC Heidenheim stats page for more info.
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1. FC Heidenheim. Source: Official Facebook. Edited photo
TipsGG Match Prediction
We think this friendly favours Heidenheim more than the team names suggest. Bologna’s 0-4 loss to Bielefeld exposed real defensive issues, and their lack of July match time puts them behind Heidenheim in terms of fitness and sharpness. Frank Schmidt’s side have scored freely this pre-season — 12 goals from three matches — and they press with intensity that could trouble a Bologna side still finding its shape under a new coach.
The goals market is where the value sits. Both teams have shown they can score, and Bologna’s defensive fragility makes a high-scoring game plausible. Over 2.5 goals and BTTS Yes are our primary recommendations. Maybe Heidenheim edge the result outright, but the double chance covering them alongside a draw is the safer route if you want a result market. Either way, expect goals and a competitive match that defies the ranking gap.
